Filing appliance.



H. J. HICK.

FILING APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED 001213, 1911.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Snow/who;

Wane/sow Maw H. J. HIOK.

FILING APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED 0012.13, 1911.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NORINS PETER-5 CU PHOTO LITH hurrah s'ra S PAT HARRY J. I-IICK, OF ALLIANCE, OHIO, ASSIGNOE, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE MCCASKEY REGISTER COMPANY, (INCORPORATED IN 1914,) OF ALLIANCE, OHIO,

A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

FILING APPLIANCE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HARRY J. H1011, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alliance, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Filing Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to appliances or devices that are adapted to receive and hold papers, documents, paper slips, and similar articles and permitting them to be classified under suitable headings, whereby they may be inserted, removed or inspected rapidly and in a simple manner.

For the purpose of illustration, I have, in the accompanying drawings, shown and herein described one form of filing appliance embodying my invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an appliance embodying my invention, parts of the casing being broken away. Fig. 2 is'a fragmentary sectional view through the lower portion of the holders. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the holders. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of two holders and the pivotal connections between them. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the pivotal connections. Fig. 6 is'a perspective view of a modified form of pivotal connection showing the parts thereof detached fro-m each other. Fig. 7 is a front view, partly in section, of the pivotal connection shown in Fig. 6.

In the drawings, 1 indicates a casing having a platform or support 1*, a back 1 and a forwardly-extending frame 1 which may serve as a writing desk. The casing may also include side members, between which may be provided one or more drawers or trays 1.

2 indicates a series of holders for holding or supporting papers, or paper slips, and comprising a front or forward end holder 2, a back or rear end holder 2 and a plurality of intermediate holders 2. All the holders are preferably of uniform size, and may be normally arranged back to back in vertical position.

Each holder comprises a back 2 which is preferably formed from sheet metal, a hinge bar 2 side members 2, spacing devices 2 and'paper clips 2. The hinge bars Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 13, 1911.

Patented. Aug. 18, 1914.

Serial No. 654,500.

2 may extend from end to end along the lower end of the holders. Each bar is preferably formed by extending the metal of the adjacent back and bending it into a hollow rectangular bar. The free edge of the metal may be arranged flat against and secured to the adjacent back by rivets 2. The side members 2 being arranged along the opposite sides of the backs, protect the edges thereof and also maintain the backs substantially parallel with each other. The spacing devices on opposite faces of each back are preferably alined with each other and secured to the adjacent back by a single rivet 2 At 2 each clip is provided with a plate which forms a back or support for a heading oreye signali Only one clipor slip engagingdevice 2 is shown in the drawings, but it willbe understood that I provide a series of such devices on both faces of each back 2 except the backs of the front and rear holders, which are only provided with clips on their inner faces. At 2" the front and rear holders are provided with external plates or walls, formed from sheet metal, which give said holders a neat and finished appearance.

3 indicates pivotal connections between the holders 2' connecting said holders to-' gether and permitting each to move or swing relative to theadjoining holder. By this construction the holders may be operated one by one or in groups from the vertical to the horizontal position, and vice versa for the purpose of exposing either face of any desired holder. The connections 3 comprise a series of pivotal devices 3, at least one of which is carried by each holder, depending bearing plates 3 depending from their opposite ends which plates are preferably integrally connected therewith, and pintles or pivot pins 8 each of which connects adjacent pivotal bearing plates of adjoining holders together. As clearly shown in Fig. 5, each connection 3 is formed from a section of sheet metal, which is bent or pressed to form a, bottom, sides and upper metal forming each support 3 are arranged to engage the opposite faces of the adjacent back and be riveted thereto, preferably by the rivet 2 The shape of the hinge bar in cross section prevents any relative movement between it and the supporting device 3 in a direction circumferentially of the said bar.

At 3 each bearing plate is formed with openings near its opposite ends, the openings in one plate alining with the openings in the plate at the opposite side of the adjacent pivotal device 3. As will be understood, the openings 3 in the plates 3 of a pivotal device 3 carried by one holder register with the openings 3 of the plate carried by the device 3 of the adjoining holder or holders to receive the pintles 3 Since each pintle 3) in the construction shown is of a length to extend through the alined openings in the bearing plates of the two adjacent pivot connections on the same bar, a long bearing is provided. The opposite ends of each pintle 3 are preferably up-set on the opposite outer bearing plates of each two adjoining pivotal devices 3 on the same bar. They are of. a length so that after the upsetting operation, they maintain the inner bearing plates of said devices in close engagement with the interposed plates of a device 3" on the adjoining bar and thus prevent endwise movement'of one holder relative to the adjoining holder or holders. As the bearing plates depend downwardly vertically from the hinge bar 2 it will be seen that one forms a bearing for the other, as the adjacent holder is operated. Preferably I provide each alternate hinge bar 2 with one pivot connection 3 and each of the remaining hinge bars 2 with two pivot connections which are arranged on opposite'sides of the connections 8 on the alternate hinge bars. This arrangement not only provides a very long and durable bearing for the hinge bars, but serves to keep them in alinement since each pintle has support on one hinge bar upon opposite sides of its bearing connection with the adjoining hinge bar.

4: indicates a bearing mounted on the support 1 and arranged to removably receive a pivot 8 carried by bearing plates 3 at the forward edge of the front holder 2. This support being at the forward end of the series of holders 2, maintains them in upright position with the rear holder against the back 1, or a yielding device 5, which may be provided thereon. This support also forms the pivot for the front holder and those holders which may be operated there- .with as a group at any time. Since the holders are connected together at their hinged. ends, it will be understood that the operation of the front and succeeding holders to the horizontal position serves to move the hinged ends of the remaining holders forwardly and upwardly; the operation of the holders back to the vertical posi tion moves the hinged ends downwardly and baekwardly. j

6 indicates a device preferably carried by the back 1 for guiding the rear holder in its-up and down movements. The operative position of the guide device 6 is shown in dotted'lines in Fig. 1. in the form of the invention herein illustrated and described,

the rearward leaves are moved forwardlyand upwardly when any of the forward leaves are operated from the vertical to the horizontal position; when the operated leaves are returned to the vertical position, the rearward leaves move rearwardly and downwardly. The guide device 6 is ar ranged to be engaged by the upper or free edge of the rearmost leaf and as said rearnicst leaf moves upwardly or downwardly it is guided in such movements by the device 6.

The guide devicetl may be provided with a latch 6 at or near its free end. This latch is so arranged that when all of the leaves have beenoperated, except the rearmost leaf. the free edge of the latter leaf will ride into engagement with the latch 6 and be locked thereby against operation. This device may also be pivoted to the back, whereby it will fall by gravity into the position shown in Fig. 1, whereby the latch will prevent the operation. of all the holders.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have illustrated a slightly modified form of hinge connection for pivotally connecting the holders to gether. Referring to these figures, 2 indicates the holder, 2 the hinge bar thereof. 7 indicates a plate formed from a piece of sheet metal and pressed or bent on longitudinal lines to encircle and snugly fit around the walls of the hinge bar 2. The opposite longitudinal ends of the plates are preferably arranged fiat against the opposite faces of the adjacent back and fixed thereto by the rivets 2*. 7 indicates a plate interposed] between the bottom walls of the hinge bar 2 and plate 7 and provided at its opposite ends with hearing plates 3 formed integral therewith. The bearing plates are arranged to abut against the opposite end edges of the bottom wall of the supporting plate 7 and thus prevent movement of'the plate 7 longitudinally of the hinge bar 2 The plate 7 being of a width to fit snugly between the side walls of the adjacent supporting plate 7 and being held thereby flat against the bottom wall of the adjacent hinge bar, it will be locked against movement in order that the bearing plates will be rigidly supported at right angles to the hinge bars. The plate 7 and bearing plates 3 may be stamped or formed from sheet metal which is bent at right angles at its opposite ends to form the said plates 3 By constructing the pivotal connections between the holders, of sheet metal all heavy parts are-avoided, tl'ins materially lessening the weight oli the holders, and on account of thelong pivotal bearings which I provide, it is possible to connect the holderstogether with one set of connections centrally arranged between the ends thereof instead of two sets of connections arranged near their opposite ends. Also, since each supporting device is bent on longitudinal lines, it will be seen that the bearing plates carried thereby will be readily supported relative to each other and eilectively resist all strains endwise of the said devices. It will also be seen that as the bearing plates are formed by bending a sec tion of metal at right angles to the bottom wall of the supporting device, they will be strengthened in a longitudinal direction and prevented from being bent or twisted on transverse lines, the efiect of which being that one bearing plate will serve as a brace for adjoining bearing plates.

To those skilled in the art of making filing appliances of the class described, many alterations in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of my invention will suggest themselves, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

My disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative, and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is 1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a set of hold rs each provided with a hinge bar, and connections be tween said hinge bars permitting the holders to swing from one position to another, each connection comprising a plate bent around the hinge bar of an adjacent holder, bearing plates formed with openings and depending from the opposite ends of said plates, and a pintle arranged to extend through said openings and the openings in the bearing plates carried by the plate of the adjoining hinge bar.

2. The combination of a set of holders, connections pivotally connecting adjoining holders to each other and permitting them to swing from one position to another, each connection including a pair of spaced dependbea-ring plates each formed with openings through its opposite ends and arranged to register with the openings of the other bearing plate of the same connection and with openings in the bearing plates of connections on the adjoining holders, and a pintle extending through the alined openings of the bearing plates.

3. The combination of a set of holders, connections between said holders permitting them to swing from one position to another, each connection including a pair oi spaced bearing plates extending laterally beyond the opposite sides of the adjacent holders and formed with alined openings through their opposite ends and arranged to register with the openings in the bearing plates of the adjoining connections, and pintles tending througl'i the alined openings of the bearing plates.

The combination of a set of holders, connections between said holders permitting them to sw' g from one position to another, each corniection including a pair of spaced bearing plates formed wi h alined openings through their opposite ends and arranged to register with the openings in the bearing plates of the adjoining connections, and intles extending through the alined opens of the bearing plates, each alternate holder being provided with one connection and each of the remaining holders being prov ded with two connections arranged on op posite sides of the connection carried by the alternate holders.

Pivotal connections for the hinge bars of the holders in a filing appliance, each connection having walls fitting around one ol the hinge bars and bearing plates depending from the opposite ends of the connection, the bearing; plates being provided with openings adapted to aline with the openings of an adjoii'iing connection and to receive a pintle thercthrou i.

6. The combination out a series of holders each 1 aving a hinge bar of rectangular shape in cross section, and connections between the said hinge bars for pivotally connecting them together, each connection comprisa pivotal device formed from sheet metal and ing snugly the walls of the adjacent hinge bar, and bearing plates depending from the opposite ends of said device at right angles thereto and formed with openings to receive the pintles, and pintles extending through the openings in the bearing plates of adjoining pivotal connecting devices for pivotally connecting them together.

7. A connecting device for pivotally connecting holders together. having a bottom, side and top walls, adapted to fit around the hin e bar of a holder, bearing plates deventing from the opposite ends of said bottom wall and at right angles thereto and formed with oj ienings to receive a pintle, the said botte 3, side and top walls and. said bearing plates being termed from a section or sheet metal, and means for securing said device to said hinge bar.

8. A connecting device for pivotally connecting holders together having a bottom, side and top walls, adapted to fit around the hinge bar of a holder, bearing plates de pending from the opposite ends of said bottom wall. and at right angles thereto and formed with openings to receive a pintle, the said bottom, sine and top walls and said bearing plates being formed from a section of sheet metal, the opposite longitudinal ends of the said section being arranged parallel to each other for engagement with the opposite faces of the holder, and means for securing said ends of said section to the holder.

9. A connecting device for the holders of a filing appliance formed from sheet metal and bent to form a bottom wall, side walls, and top Wall, adapted to fit around the hinge bar of the holder, and bearing plates in tegrally connected with and depending from the opposite ends of the bottom wall at right angles thereto, the opposite ends of each bearing plate being extended and formed with openings that are adapted to register with the openings of the bearing plates carried by adjoining connecting devices.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

' HARRY J. HICK. Witnesses:

G-no. C. RUssELL, HENRYT. POLLOGK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

